To understand a cello, and parts of a cello can be confusing for the people who find all these string instruments as the same. But cello is an instrument from the strings family that is used in producing music of different genres. It has an impressive wooden physique that makes it the second largest instrument in the string instrument family. It looks similar to violin but has large size with a metal rod for resting the instrument since it is too large to hold on the chin like that of a violin.
What is a Cello?
One of the members of stringed instruments family, cello is the second largest instrument in the family. It generates deep and reverberating sound played in Jazz, Rock and Pop Music. This instrument is not only heavy and large, but also is attractive and delicate with patterned wood grain, decorative looks and has curvy hourglass shape. So, to answer the question what does a cello look like, it looks like a large violin with a metal rod attached to it.
Anatomy of a Cello: Parts of a Cello
Now that we understand what is a cello, let’s delve into the parts of a cello, to understand its working and usage for beginners.
1. Pegbox
A pegbox is the hallowed-out section of wood between the neck and the scroll. The scroll is a decorative swirl of wood topped above the pegbox giving it the elegant look. The pegbox has 4-holes on it where the pegs are fitted. Two pegs are inserted into the two sides and towards the end, they protrude slightly from the opposite sides.
This wooden section is made of maple which is mostly same as the neck and the scroll’s wood. It is crucial to keep the instrument in a cold environment because changes in humidity can cause shrinking or enlargement of the peg holes which might ruin the instrument.
2. Body
The elegant body shape of cello is made of several distinct minor major parts of it that are proportionately combined to create the look. The parts of a cello body are defined as below:
Bouts: The wider rounded parts of the cello’s body are known as bouts. There is an upper bout and a lower bout. The upper bout is closer to the neck of the cello and the lower bout is close to the endpin of the cello.
F-Holes: Two hallows are carved on the top of the cello beside the bouts which creates way for the vibration of the strings, and since these holes are F-shaped, they are named as F-Holes.
Ribs: The external woods that connects the top and the back of the cello from the sides are called ribs. The support of ribs aids cello’s structural integrity to generate the right sound. To generate better sound, the ribs need to be stronger.
Purfling: The decorative edge all around the top as well as the bottom of the cello is called purfling. This is used because the edge of the instrument is too fragile and likely to crack down. The purfling is made of 3 delicate strips of wood which layered into thin channel and then is carved into the cello.
Bridge: A piece of carved wood that stands parallel to the body of the cello and elevates some distance between the f-holes is the bridge. The bridge keeps the strings away from the body and neck of the cello to create a room for the strings to vibrate and generate sound appropriately.
Endpin Rod: Since the cello is a large and heavy instrument, one cannot hold it on their neck and to play it, the instrument needs support. This support is provided by the metal rod below the body and keeps the instrument sit upright at an angle in playing position. This metal rod is the endpin rod which is one of the very important cello parts.
Tailpiece: The curved piece of wood where strings are anchored at the other end of the pegbox is the tailpiece. It has 4-round holes that secures the end of the strings, pulling the strings to the saddle and endpin. It has tailgut which is made of metal or nylon that connects the tailpiece and endpin.
Fine Tuners: There is atleast one screw attached to the A string at the end of the tailpiece, this screw helps in adjusting the strings tones through tension manipulation. This screw are called fine tuners.
3. Neck
The narrow thin piece of wood that comes out from the top of the cello’s body is the neck. The neck is designed to support the fingerboard, pegbox, and scroll. The wood used on the neck too is made of maple and is crafted with a slight curve making the strings more accessible on the fingerboard. Neck includes the following parts of a cello.
Strings: The strings are the tightly wound metal alloy ran through the neck and the majority part of the cello body. To play the cello, one must press the strings to the fingerboard and drag the bow across the string.
Nut: The small piece of wood between the neck and pegboard, raised perpendicular to the neck is nut. The nut is meant for keeping the strings well organized on the fingerboard.
Also Read: Double Bass vs Cello Explained
4. Interior Parts
A string instrument’s interior parts reflect the kind of sound it generates. It highly contributes to shaping the cello’s tones. There are two major interior parts every beginner must understand about cello. Which are:
Sound Post: A cello’s body requires support underneath the bridge and the F holes which amplifies the vibrations generated by the strings that makes the sound loud and full. This support is a wooden dowel that internally bridges the back and top of the cello is called sound post.
Bass Bar: To amplify the lower register notes, a bass bar is used. The bass bar is made of spruce wood and is placed on the interiors of the cello.
5. Accessories
While playing the cello instrument, you need to have not only the cello but also the other accessories not attached to it but are important for playing it. These accessories are:
Bow: A tightly strung wooden rod used to drag across the strings to create vibrations and generate sound is the bow.
Endpin Strap: When you play cello on a surface that is not meant for playing the instrument, the endpin strap gives the support that the endpin requires while you hold the instrument on the floor to play.
The above are the vital accessories one must have while the use a cello but there are other important accessories too that eases your cello playing. These accessories are Rosin, Cello Mute and more.
Conclusion
Parts of a cello are many and they are all used for making a cello for their different features and uses. Breaking down the anatomy of a cello, we can understand the depth of the instrument and then we can play it even better, hence beginners must understand each and every part of a cello before starting their learning journey.
Are Cello Parts the Same as the Violin, Viola, or Double Bass Parts?
Although cello is a part of stringed family instrument, and though all of them look similar and have the same materials from which they are made of, their core sound differs due to their sizes. So, violin, viola, cello and double bass are all different.
What are the Parts of a Cello Bow?
A cello bow has several parts like bow stick, bow hair, head, tip, screw, frog, pastille, winding pad and more that helps in producing a clear, loud sound from the instrument.